If you are abroad under the auspices of a particular program or organization (e.g., Fulbright, IES, etc.), please remain in close contact with program administrators for their support and guidance. The situation with respect to border closings, other travel restrictions, flight availability, and so forth varies significantly among countries and sometimes even among regions within a country. Your local program administrator will likely have the most up-to-date information on local conditions and possibilities for assistance.
If no commercial travel options are available, contact the local U.S. embassy or consulate. While many are currently operating at significantly reduced capacity, emergency assistance for U.S. citizens abroad is generally still available, and they may have information about charter flights being organized to repatriate U.S. citizens.
Contact the State Department through the 24-hour consular emergency line: from outside the United States, +1 (202) 501-4444. (For department chairs or others calling from within the United States on behalf of travelers, (888) 407-4747.)
Enroll in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). This program is designed for pre-travel enrollment, but even enrollment once in-country is advisable.
Contact your department chair, with a copy to the Office of the Vice President for International Affairs at ovpia@iu.edu, so that we know about your situation. Where necessary, we can initiate outreach to our government representatives through IU’s Office of Federal Relations.
